INTERVIEW: Rita de Los Angeles Finds Refuge in Music on "Shade of Blue"
Rita de Los Angeles is a solo singer/songwriter originally born and raised in Los Angeles, and currently lives near Cologne, Germany. She writes and performs guitar-driven songs featuring a mix of rock, pop, and a sprinkle of outlaw country. She performs 30+ shows a year in Germany’s most populated state of NRW during the spring, summer and fall; and in Southern California each winter season.
We’ve spoken with de Los Angeles in the past about her fascinating history. Today, de Los Angeles tells us about why her dream collaborator is Shawna Virago and the inspiration behind her new song “Shade of Blue.”
How do you feel your queer identity ties into your performance style or music?
I’ve been OUT for so long, I can hardly remember what it was like to NOT be OUT. I’m 54 years old, so I was out protesting during the early days of Queer Nation and ACT-UP Los Angeles during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. I even shut down Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California when the anti-gay Reverend Lou Sheldon was scheduled to speak. He was the leader of the Traditional Values Coalition, a lobbying organization that was behind a lot of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in California.
To say the least, I have no fear of being OUT. In my live performance, I never shy about singing songs about loving women and I’m always open about being married to a woman. I play mostly to straight audiences in rural areas, and perform about 30 shows a year. I’m happy to say that I have NEVER had a bad experience being OUT on stage. To the contrary, I get a lot of positive feedback. Perhaps rural Europeans are more open than Americans? I’m not sure, because I’ve only performed in larger cities
within California.
How have you healed or grown your relationship to country music/Americana?
Although I was born and raised in Los Angeles, my parents were immigrants from Cairo, Egypt. My mom arrived in America at the age of 17, and she desperately wanted to shake the “Arab” out of her identity and become a typical American. To her that meant listening to country music. As a teenager, I had to endure country music all the time – at home, in the car, on TV – it was the soundtrack of my formative life. Mom was always listening to Reba McEntire, George Strait, Willie Nelson, George Jones, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, and Patsy Cline, to name just a few. Embarrassed to say now… I hated it. I was obsessed with AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, and other great rock acts from the 70’s and 80’s.
But then mom died in 2020, and I immediately sough the comfort of country and Americana music. And now I just can’t get enough. My mom and I were very close. There was only an 18 year difference between the two of us. I have to admit that country music just brings my mom back to life in my heart and soul. Whenever I perform, I’m always visualizing my mom in the audience. I used to have stage fright, but I don’t have it anymore since mom died. I think country music helps me cope with my grief, and I have no anxiety on stage anymore. I only fear death. Getting on stage is easy-peasy.
You have a new single “Shade of Blue” out right now. Does it have an overarching theme? [CONTENT WARNING: The following answer describes an incident of partner violence in some detail]
“Shade of Blue” is a metaphor for blue bruises and depression when you are a victim of domestic abuse. The song is inspired after watching my sister survive a near-death experience after being assaulted by her ex-husband. They got in an argument one fine day; he strangled her to the point where she literally felt the life come out of her. Somehow, she mustered enough strength to fight him off, escape and ran to a neighbor’s house for help. The police were called and there was a 12-hour stand-off between a SWAT team and her ex. He spent about 2 years in jail. By the way, he was a cop.
Thank God, my sister survived, but the trauma will always be lurking in the shadows of our family. I hope “Shade of Blue” will inspire people living with active domestic abuse to try and get help and hopefully get safe before it’s too late.
Who would you love to collaborate with? Why?
I would love to collaborate with Shawna Virago. I love the raw, firebrand songs that Shawna has been releasing. I think she is one of the most courageous, pioneering country artists on the scene. So the first thing I would do is tip my cowgirl hat to her. I ‘suspect’ we’re about the same age range and perhaps lived through some similar experiences. I’m from Los Angeles and I think she’s from San Francisco, which I’ve spent a lot of time in when I was in my 20’s and 30’s. Because of this, perhaps we could craft a cool song together? I don’t know her personally, but that would be exciting to me. I would love to have an excuse to go back to SF after all these years, and work with Shawna if she’s ever interested.
Selfishly, I’d love to share a photo opp with Shawna. I think she’s beautiful!
Is there a professional “bucket list” item you would love to check off?
No, I’m just happy letting my musical life organically unfold. I used to be super goal- oriented, and that just caused me stress. I don’t want to have expectations. First and foremost, I want to have fun. Second, I want to heal. Third, I hope my healing through music helps my audience transform and heal too. One day, perhaps we could have a longer and deeper conversation about how music really does heal. It’s the best anti- anxiety medicine in the world.
My favorite types of shows are house and living room concerts. I spend about 4 months a year in California, so if any of you Rainbow Rodeo readers live in California or even some of the ‘artery’ states like Nevada or Arizona and interested in becoming a house concert host, go to my website and you’ll find my contact information. Alternatively, you can DM me on Instagram.
I will be in California November 13 – December 17th 2024 and back again starting late February / early March 2025.
Rita de Los Angeles — Official, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
